The BBC on Tuesday released a list of the 50 “Americanisms” plaguing their rainy shores, and it’s every bit as stuffily peevish as you might expect! The Economist has already done the yeoman’s work in pointing out how ridiculous such a notion is, but here at Metro we thought we’d give the Brits some of their own medicine. No offense intended to our friendly editor-in-chief, but here is our list of the 10 Brit-phrases we’d like to send back to Blighty:
1. “Al-ooh-MIN-eeyum.” Eegads!
2. “Amidst” and “amongst.” We have a theory that the popularity of these two is directly tied to people imitating old “Monty Python” sketches, but we’re a little embarrassed by it.
3. “Quite.” Unless you are literally sitting down drinking tea with your pinky extended, you don’t need this weasel word.
4. “Indeed.”
5. “Series.” If this is a “season” of television, what do you call a TV series then?
6. “Zed.”
7. “Fringe.” “Fringe” is for carpets. You mean “bangs.”
8. “Kerfuffle.” This is a word for children!
9. “Pardon.” This isn’t “A Room with a View” and you are not Daniel Day Lewis.
10. “Cheers.”
